CVA: Sec. McDonald Op-Ed on VA Bonuses Defends the Indefensible
Arlington, Va. — Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) CEO Pete Hegseth made the following statement in response to VA Sec. Bob McDonald’s defense of the VA’s awarding more than $140 million in bonuses to thousands of VA employees, some of whom were involved in the recent scandals plaguing the department:
“By attempting to defend the bonus system as currently constructed, Sec. McDonald makes crystal clear that he doesn’t understand the problems plaguing the VA. Despite consistently complaining that the VA is in the midst of a ‘resource crisis,’ he rushes to the editorial pages of a major newspaper to defend the VA’s handing out more than $140 million in incentives to nearly 50 percent of VA employees, including individuals who knowingly overprescribed medication to veterans, oversaw massive cost and time overruns of VA facilities, and created a culture of fear among subordinates.
“Rather than encouraging innovation and exceptional performance, granting bonuses to incompetent and unethical employees demoralizes the overwhelming majority of VA personnel who are committed to giving veterans the best care possible. The recent independent assessment of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) makes that clear.
“If Sec. McDonald is truly committed to our veterans and not pleasing entrenched bureaucrats, he should devote his time to reforming the bonus system rather than crafting op-eds that defend the indefensible.”
To schedule a TV interview with Pete Hegseth, CEO of CVA, or other CVA experts, please email booking@guestbooker.com. For media inquiries, contact press@cv4a.org.
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Concerned Veterans for America is a non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization that advocates for policies that will preserve the freedom and prosperity we and our families so proudly fought and sacrificed to defend.